Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-08-31
DIED 4 BE6GAR.
But She Had Nearly - 1OOO Concealed Abou
- War Carrst E&ostop r1tsor

But She Had Nearly 5000 Concealed \ bout
,s@ Her Gsrret-A Boston mlser
BOsTON, MASS, Aug. 19.-From beg
carly little room at the rear of Il Albany
street, Mrs. Mary Smith was removed
to the city hospital Saturday night, where
she died before morning. She was sew
enty-six years old, and without doubt the
most raggedly dressed woman II Boston.
Her apartment was miserably filthy, and
her clothes were little better than old
rags, kept together by strings.
Mrs. Smith was professional beggar,
and it was while limpIng around on her
daily round in search of charity, Saturday
afternoon, that she Was knocked down and
run over by careless butcher boy at the
corner of Howard and Hudson streets
Somebody removed her to her home and
notified the police and had her taken to
the City Hospital. She was not badly
hurt, but her advanced years and her en-
feebled condition, resulting from long
years of priyation, could not withstand
the shock. Before she died she said
something about her money, and asked
that Lawyer Charles Colbeth be notified
The hospital attendants believed the poor
creature was wandering in her mind.
| This morning, however, word was sent
to the lawyer, when they Were surprised
to hear that the old woman had recently
made g will, and was worth several thou
| sand dCllSrs.
! The police were notified and an officer
detailed to search the misery lodgings
| Opening the door of the old woman s
room, foul odor greeted him, and q
dozen rats disappeared leisurely into
their holes. The officer began his search
by ripping open the first of the two old
straw mattresses, when, to his surprise,
several handfuls OF gold and silver coins
ratified down on the floor. The saWdust,
chips and husks with which the mattress
was stuffed were poured out into a pile
beside the bed. Scattered among tits
chaff was hatful Of bank notes Officer
Franks poked over the pile and saw that
many of the bills were rolled
up into wads and tied with
greasy strings. He cut these witt
his knife, and counting the wealth, fount
$3.50. On the wall over the bed hung 81
old petticoat. Mechanically thrustine
his hand into the pocket he drew out S
hard rag. Opening this so in bills lay
in his hand. On peg near by wa.
it to replace it on the hook he felt hare
bunch of something inside the lining
Cutting the threads with his knife. a littl,
bag dropped out and ST. in small sllve
coins rolled OF on the floor. Inside TIT
door another dirty article of apparel hung
It was searched, and in the lining wa
found secreted a large pocketbook
Sewed into this were bills of various
denominations amounting to SO.
On the floor lay mattress black will
fifth and rolled up and tied with piece
OF clothesIine. Inside this and wrapped
carefully with dozen newspapers was 3
package of United States governnen
bonds Of the issue OF 1887, bearing pc
cent. interest and amounting in value 4
$500. Down in corner of the bag wer.
two bank books of the Franklin saving
Bank, each showing deposit of $1,000
Continuing the search, black dress wa
found. and in various parts of the linin!
were found, sewed IN separately, SIS il
bills and silver. In bureau was foun(
$3.50 in gold. The entire amount O
money and bonds amounted to between
$4,000 ana $1,000.